General English Programmes

Improve your English language and communication skills, build confidence, enhance your professional skills and have a rich cultural experience at one of the largest year-round providers of English language courses in Scotland.

We offer English Language courses from Elementary to Advanced level. Choose to study for 2-44 weeks on our General English, Intensive English or English Plus courses or join our popular Summer School in July - August.

General English (15 hours per week) - Improve your English language and communication skills and enjoy lots of free time to explore Edinburgh.

Intensive English (20 hours per week) - Progress your English faster and develop transferable skills such as English for Business, Academic writing skills, presentations skills or IELTS Preparation.

English Plus (20 hours per week) - Improve your English language skills and get a taste of the College experience. Join our General English couse in the mornings and afternoon workshops to explore other subject areas across our four faculties:

• Creative Industries
• Engineering and Construction
• Health, Wellbeing and Social Science
• Tourism, Hospitality and Business

Summer School - Enjoy a summer learning experience in Edinburgh, with weekly start dates and an enhanced Social Programme to immerse yourself in the vibrant and picturesque city of Edinburgh.

Course Details

All students join our General English coure in the mornings (15 hours per week). Students can upgrade to include Intensive English or English Plus classes two afternoons per week (+5 hours per week).

General English

Our General English course is designed to increase your confidence with the English language, to improve your grammar and pronunciation, and to help you practise your language skills in a range of everyday situations. Suitable for elementary to advanced level, there is a focus on developing your spoken English, as well as building your vocabulary.

Our engaging syllabus focuses on all the skills you need to improve your English. Our communicative lessons work on your speaking, listening, reading and writing as well as activating and extending your knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. You will improve your communication skills, functional language and pronunciation. Our aim is to help you feel more confident when using English and to progress through the levels.

Our team of lecturers are experienced in getting the best out of our students and will help you make the improvements in your English you are looking for. Our teaching team receives consistently excellent feedback and are dedicated to their subject. All of our teachers are enthusiastic, experienced and teach in a friendly and interesting way.

You will take a placement test before you arrive so we can find the best level to meet your needs. You will have opportunities during your course to give feedback and input on what you would like to do in your monthly one-to-one tutorial.

Students will receive an Edinburgh College certificate on completion.

What to expect:

• Focus on developing practical and functional skills, rather than just learning grammar or vocabulary.
• Engage in project-based work that will allow you to explore the local community more and build collaborative and employability skills.
• Prioritise meaningful, communicative language over traditional exercises.
• Be encouraged to develop an awareness of your own strengths and weaknesses.
• Be encouraged to reflect on your own progress and set goals for your improvement.

Edinburgh College is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK, so our courses are externally inspected and meet high-quality standards.

Intensive English

We recognise that every student’s learning needs are unique to them. We have developed a dynamic curriculum that allows you to choose and change your Intensive English modules each month. With different modules on offer you can put more focus on areas of English you would like to develop or simply what you enjoy!

Join our General English classes in the morning (15 hours per week) and choose from a range of Intensive English options on two afternoons per week. Modules are subject to availability and will run according to student demand.

What to expect:

• Fast-track your progress with an additional 5 hours per week of class time.
• Engage in practical tasks that relate to or simulate real-world English.
• Apply English language skills for specific purposes relating to further study or career ambitions
• Build confidence using English in an immersive English-language environment.
• Activate and extend knowledge and use of English language and improve natural use of English
• Support a skills-based approach through ongoing assessments and tests.

Intensive English options include:

• IELTS Preparation
• Academic Writing for Higher Education
• English and UK Culture
• English for Business
• English for Tourism
• Presentation Skills

Modules are subject to availability and will run according to student demand. For more information see our website.

English Plus

Our English Plus courses are designed for you to improve your English language skills and get a taste of the College experience. Join our General English classes in the morning (15 hours per week) and benefit from College taster workshops on two afternoons per week.

Edinburgh College is one of Scotland’s largest colleges, with around 26,000 students across 4 campuses in Edinburgh city. Our four faculties deliver high-quality teaching in a wide range of subjects for local and international students. As part of our English Plus programme, you will have the opportunity to join College taster workshops in a wide range of subject areas across our four faculties.

• Creative Industries

• Engineering and Construction

• Health, Wellbeing and Social Sciences

• Tourism, Hospitality and Business

What to expect

In the mornings you will join our General English classes. On two afternoons per week, you will join College taster workshops.

Our College taster workshops can include an introduction to different subject areas, meeting home students, guest lectures or industry visits, practical activities in our industry-standard facilities, project-based learning.

Students will be able to:

• access our extensive College facilities

• get a taste of college life in the UK

• explore vocational subject areas to inspire further study or career ambitions

• connect with local students and specialist lecturers from four faculty areas

• engage in project-based learning and use English in real-world settings

Summer School

Learn English, make new friends from around the world. Immerse yourself in the vibrant, cultural, and picturesque city of Edinburgh, the festival city!

Every summer in July and August we welcome individual students and groups for a summer learning experience in Edinburgh, with weekly start dates and an enhanced Social Programme to make the most of everything the city has to offer.

Edinburgh is a fantastic place to visit in the summer months. The weather gets warmer and arts, music, film and book festivals take place across the city, including the world’s largest arts festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August.

• 16+ years old

• Average class size 12, maximum 15

• Enhanced Social Programme

• Study in Scotland’s capital city

• Festival city